Over the years, it has become increasingly evident that climate change is not
only a reality – but also a real threat to our way of life. As the state’s
Chief Financial Officer, It is my duty to understand and prepare for all
issues that may affect the future of Florida’s economy. That is why
Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson and I announced that we are
partnering to co-host a series of “Conversations on Climate Change.”

The conversations will be a series of cabinet workshops
to discuss the impact of climate change on Florida’s economy, as well as the
need to expand renewable energy sources. The first workshop will be held on
Tuesday, April 3, 2007, after the Cabinet meeting and is titled, “Climate
Change: An Overview.” Each week we will continue to be joined by national
experts and leaders on climate change such as former New York Governor
Pataki, who is set to participate in our June workshop.

It is our hope that the conversations will help elected
officials, business leaders, and residents understand the challenges that
climate change presents, as well as the opportunities we have to be part of
finding potential solutions. As a result, we may not only be protecting our
economy but also helping to expand it with new environmentally friendly
industries.
We invite you to follow along with us as we engage in these conversations.

Former New York Governor George E.
Pataki, leading national experts to participate

Bringing awareness to how
environmental changes affect Floridians, Chief Financial Officer Alex
Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles
Bronson announced they will be co-hosting “Conversations on Climate
Change,” a series of Cabinet workshops on how Florida’s economy is
affected by changes in climate and the need to expand renewable energy
sources.

“Conversations on
Climate Change” will begin Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. after
the Florida Cabinet meeting with “Climate Change: An Overview.” Future
workshops are scheduled after the June 12, September 18, and November
14, 2007, Florida Cabinet meetings. Each workshop will feature a new
topic and national experts in areas such as: the science of rising sea
levels, renewable energy sources, the impact of climate change on the
insurance and financial industries, and more. The sessions will also
give elected officials, business leaders and Floridians the opportunity
to understand how these challenges and potential solutions present
opportunities for the growth of new industries in our state.

“Climate change is a
reality, and we need to learn as much as we can about the potential
impact on our state’s financial health,” said CFO Sink. “As someone
concerned about Florida’s economy, I’m proud to partner with
Commissioner Bronson to learn from other states’ experiences as we
evaluate and make informed decisions about the future of energy in
Florida.”
CONTINUED

CROSS CITY
MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, ARSON

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who also
serves as State Fire Marshal, said a 43-year-old man who set fire to a
mobile home while his wife was in it has been charged with attempted murder,
aggravated battery and arson.

State Fire Marshal detectives arrested Demps Randall
Rains last Thursday following an investigation into the February 18 fire at
their home at 9472 NE Highway 351, Cross City. Both Rains and his wife were transported
to Shands Hospital for smoke inhalation.

“We will not tolerate violence against our citizens,
and not only was this woman’s life put at risk but also the lives of
firefighters and others who responded to the fire,” said CFO Sink. “We will
do all we can to assist in prosecuting these charges to the fullest extent
of the law.” CONTINUED

WINDSTORM MITIGATION
STUDY COMMITTEE MEETS TO FINALIZE REPORT

The Windstorm Mitigation Study
Committee will conduct conference calls this Saturday, March 3, and meet
in Tallahassee on Monday, March 5, 2007. The committee call on Saturday
will be held from 8 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The committee meeting on
Monday will be held from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m, and with a conference call
connection available throughout the meeting.

Florida Chief Financial Officer
Alex Sink announced today the arrests of two title agents believed to be
part of a six-member mortgage fraud ring suspected of duping several
mortgage lenders and a homeowner out of nearly $2 million.

The arrests stem from a
joint investigation between the Department of Financial Services,
Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF), and the Office of Financial
Regulation (OFR), and focused on real estate transactions on five
properties located in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.
On all of these properties, bogus mortgages were obtained using false
HUD-1’s, sham appraisals, bogus second mortgages, false verifications of
employment, earnest money that was never received and other fraudulent
documents.

“These kinds of schemes
cause real economic harm to Floridians and our state’s economy,” said
CFO Sink. “I commend the investigators for unraveling this scheme and
working with the Office of Statewide Prosecution to get charges filed
against these individuals.”CONTINUED

CFO SINK BANS AGENT WHO MISLED SENIOR,
ORDERS SON TO PAY RESTITUTION

Florida Chief Financial Officer
Alex Sink announced today that she has permanently barred an insurance
agent from involvement in Florida’s insurance industry and his son, also
an agent, has been ordered to pay restitution for duping an elderly
client into annuity deals that resulted in her suffering surrender
charges and adverse tax consequences.

Hunter Stephen Bowen,
Sr., 57, and Hunter Stephen Bowen Jr., 32, both of Ocala, allegedly
convinced the woman to surrender several annuities, which she had bought
over a period of time from Bowen, Sr., in favor of a new annuity
carrying with it years of surrender charges.

“It is unconscionable
that anyone would knowingly take advantage of a senior citizen who is
relying on his or her advice to help with their financial security,”
said CFO Sink. “I especially encourage seniors who have any questions
about financial decisions to call the department for guidance, because
there are people out there who will target them because they have a
lifetime of savings.” CONTINUED

Viatical Company Pleads Guilty to Racketeering, Fraud

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General
Bill McCollum announced that Mutual Benefits Corp., once the largest
viatical settlement company in the country, pled guilty in Broward County
Circuit Court to criminal charges of racketeering and numerous counts of
investment fraud. The criminal charges filed by the Office of Statewide
Prosecution were a direct result of the investigation conducted by the
Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud. The Florida
Office of Insurance Regulation has since revoked the company's certificate
of authority.

The viatical industry frequently involves the discount purchase of life
insurance policies from an insured individual who has been diagnosed as
being terminally ill. Investors become named beneficiaries and upon death of
the insured are paid the full amount of the policy. The profit is based upon
the projected life expectancy of the insured. Fraudulent life expectancies
issued by Mutual Benefits left many investors with false expectations and
investments that could not meet their advertised terms.

“Thousands of investors were financially harmed by the extensive fraud
perpetrated by this company, and I am pleased that our investigation has
resulted in criminal and civil actions that reflect the serious nature of
these crimes,” said CFO Sink. “We will continue to do all we can to protect
Floridians and to aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to defraud our
citizens.” CONTINUED

BROWARD COUNTY DENTIST FACES GRAND THEFT
CHARGE

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex
Sink announced today the arrest of a dentist who allegedly billed the Fort
Lauderdale Police Health Trust Fund for more than $18,000 in dental services
that were never rendered.

Dr. Amy Masri, 35, was
arrested Wednesday and charged with grand theft following a joint
investigation between the Department of Financial Services, Division of
Insurance Fraud (DIF), and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. She was
booked into the Broward County Jail. If convicted on the charge, she faces
up to five years in prison in addition to possible fines and restitution.

“This individual is accused
of stealing money needed to provide care to police offers and their
families,” said CFO Sink. “This is an affront to the men and women who
serve and protect our citizens, and it is a crime that should be
aggressively prosecuted.” CONTINUED

PENSACOLA MEN CHARGED WITH ARSON AND CONSPIRACY

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who also serves as State Fire
Marshal, said two men, including one who has been convicted twice before of
arson, are facing numerous felony charges after setting fire to a mobile
home in January.

Detectives in the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Bureau of Fire and Arson
Investigations (BFAI), arrested William Charles Schrader, 50, on charges of
first-degree arson, burglary and conspiracy. He faces up to 30 years in
prison, in addition to fines and possible restitution, if convicted on all
of the charges. Joseph Anthony Donovan, 37, was arrested on charges of
first-degree arson and conspiracy and faces up to 25 years in prison, in
addition to fines and possible restitution, if convicted on all of the
charges. Both men were booked into the Escambia County Jail.

“Arson will not be tolerated in this state,” said CFO Sink. “These men put
the lives of innocent people at risk, including firefighters and other
responders, and we will do all we can to assist prosecutors in ensuring
these men get the maximum penalty under the law.” CONTINUED

BROWARD COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH INSURANCE FRAUD

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who also serves as State Fire
Marshal, announced the arrest this week of a Broward County man on a charge
of filing false and fraudulent insurance claims in connection with two fires
at his mobile home.

Carl Hickey, of Weston, allegedly used old photos of his home, taken before
it was damaged by the first fire, to apply for new insurance. He then
submitted a claim for the second fire allegedly based on the fraudulent
application. Hickey was arrested Tuesday by State Fire Marshal arson
investigators and was booked into the Broward County Jail. If convicted on
the charges, he faces up to five years in prison on each charge in addition
to restitution and possible fines.

“Insurance fraud is a costly crime that results in higher premiums for
everyone,” said CFO Sink. “That’s why we take insurance fraud seriously and
will pursue investigations aggressively.”

The fires remain under investigation, and anyone with information is urged
to call 1-877-662-7766 (1-877-NOARSON). CONTINUED

ST. LUCIE COUNTY
WOMAN CHARGED WITH ARSON TO AN OCCUPIED DWELLING

A
St. Lucie County woman who allegedly set fire to an apartment to get
revenge on her boyfriend has been arrested on a charge of arson to an
occupied dwelling.

Detective Greg Gilkey, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Bureau of
Fire and Arson Investigations, arrested Jeannette Tressley, 24, on
Thursday. She was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on a $25,000
bond. If convicted on the charge, she faces up to 30 years in prison.

No one was injured in the December 1, 2006, fire at the apartment
complex located at 1905 Avenue North, but two apartments were heavily
damaged including one that had residents in it at the time of the fire.

The Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is a law enforcement branch
of the Division of State Fire Marshal that assists other state and local
fire and law enforcement agencies in the investigation of fires of
suspicious origin. Anyone with information about this case or any
incident of fire is asked to call 1-877-662-7766 (1-877-NOARSON).